In the live performance world, live performers is the norm. On the other hand, drum machines have pretty much been replaced by MIDI sequencers, so the drum track is CH 10 of the 16 channel MIDI specification for General MIDI. MIDI is quite common in recording. The insturments can be repeated perfectly every time while he vocals can do as many takes as required to get their part right. Sequenced music is common in soundtracks and many small artists recordings. For good insturment sounds, the MIDI is often fed to a sequencer by either 5 pin MIDI, or USB. Most good keyboards and digital drum sets include MIDI and/or USB connections for use with a sequencer, sound module, or other use. Using sound fonts (insturment sounds) in your software synthesizer, you can do most of the recording on a PC with a very good library of sampled insturment sounds.

I have seen bands using a laptop with a keyboard or digital drum set to add to the library of sounds beyond the built in sound fonts.

What is it called when someone's property is taken by force?

What do you call the one who takes what does not rightfully belong to them?

Now the stolen goods are up for sale. Are there laws against receiving stolen property?

If you are a student and working in the analog range, there are some great software audio RTA spectrum analizers out there. With an aftermarket analog interface, 16 bit stereo 96KHZ sample rates are supported for low quanitization error and allising at the high end.

My super cheap interface cost me $15, supports 16 bit stereo for wide dynamic range (lower noise floor by far over my internal sound card) and 44.1 or 48KHZ sample rates. With free Audacity to generate sweep tones, and JAPA RTA software, I can sweep filters, phase lock loop filters, speakers, rooms, etc for well within budget. With cheap, but up to spec sound interfaces, they can be used for student and semi pro work.

Not a slashvertisement, but the innexpensive interface I am using is one of the Behringer U-Control series. With Audacity as my function generator for Sine, Triangle, Square, or sawtooth, I can sweep linear or log over any reasonable audio frequency range I need. With JAPA on Linux patched with Jack, and input from the interface, I have over 100 DB of dynamic range on most frequencies in the 20-20K range. Any cheap 8 bit scope card simply does not have the resolution for this. Use what works best, even if it is cheaper.

For as much contrivocery as there is in the biblical history, only recently some of the evidence supporting it is starting to show up in science. First the discovery of the "Big Bang" and the Genisis creation story. In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded or something like that.

The entire earth was covered in a flood, poor Noah. Hmm, now we find the flood drained somewhere. Is the Great Flood of Noah fiction? I have my doubts. Some of the stories are beginning to be supported by recent discoveries. How did they possibly get it right so many years ago?

Maybe there is another explination we will find.

When recommending test equipment, I tell them the same thing that I tell those needing a PC and ask for recommendations. I ask what are your requirements, and what are your wishlist.

Start with the essentials. Do you need Microsoft Office, why? Do you need to keep in a budget? If so how much and why? Can you spend extra for extras? If you can get the extra from an alternate for less, would it meet your requirements?

The PC scope. Define your requirements. Budget is item one listed. This severly limits your options. Is above audio REQUIRED? If not some simple audio interfaces can be used. On Linux there is an oscope program that works great with a sound card. Back to requirements, are you taking absolute voltage measurements? Do you require DC coupling? If so this is not an option that meets your requirements.

If working in audio frequencies, there are some excellent free spectrum analizers for free in Linux and not sure what is the options in Windows or Mac. For Linear Frequency and Log amplitude the JAAA program in most linux repositories whorks great. For Log frequency and Log amplitude, the companion JAPA program works great. I use it to ring monitors for band/PA. Audacity does a great job creating waveforms. I use it to create frequency sweeps for sound setup with the JAPA program. The sweep generation is a little obscure. Under Generate tab, it is the Chirp function. Set start frequency, end frequency, start amplitude and end amplitude, liner or log sweep, and duration of the "Chirp" to generate your signal.

For those with a good soundcard or external audio interface the generated sound is direct digital so any noise is not in the recording, but in the analog stream after the digital. Be sure to set the project frequency high, such as 96KHZ, in Audacity to prevent ailising in the upper frequencies. This is a better signal source than any CD recorded sweep due to the higher sample frequency than 44.1K of CD.

To recap, due to budget, shop for what is free or low cost. Your interface to the outside world will be your expense. There are low cost or no cost software that can enable better capture hardware. The above while nice did not meet the stated budget requirement. Retails for $299. So is the wishlist able to justify the higher cost?

All your reasons are valid. Tinkering with something you bought and own. Moving into hardware became second nature. Unlocking printers married to their ink supplier (reset ink levels, and refilling), Re-using VOIP hardware such as Sunrocket, Clearvoice, etc as a cheap source for hardware, etc. Please don't sell stuff as criple ware.

Bought one game the demo ran great once loaded. Found the real game would not play without the CD in the tray. If this is the case, IT SHOULD BE STATED ON THE BOX. Having to get the CD crack to play the game on some machines was unacceptable. Not all my machines have a CD in them. Digging out and connecting an external CD to play a game on the road is a quick way to get a return, regardless of the opened software can't be returned policy. The demo ran fine in testing. The final product failed to run in my configuration. No Refund = no future sales.

I've been waiting for ink prices to follow MP3 players, VCR's, DVD's etc in the price drop. The funny thing is this hasn't happened, so the expectation is not met leaving a market vacuum the same way physical CD's have dried up due to inflated prices. How is the sound track of music for a DVD more expensive to produce and distribute than the DVD?.

The high price for ink is creating alternatives to printing. This is being filled by other companies, and alternatives to hard copy.

Case in point. I have an HP 950C inkjet. It has been out of ink for over a year now. Costco has a bargain on ink. 2 black carts and one color cart for $97. Unable to justify the cost, I passed on the purchase.

I purchased a 2nd hand Laserjet all in one for $10 with a functioning cartridge. I just mail ordered an aftermarket 4 pack of carts for under $100 delivered.

Sorry HP, It is not an HP printer.

Do not track does not prohibit advertising. It is privacy for which websites you visit. Advertisers love that info to target ads and talor them to their target demographic. Let's face it, most beginning programmers are not interested in golf clubs. A guy shopping for an RV is a much better target.

Back on topic, I f I have an online persona that may be a grey area and I don't want a future employer to find out, while using a public hotspot, I could use a PC without a hard drive to boot from a Live CD to do my grey activities and then power down when done. Later in normal browsing that session is not associated with the other persona.

Example uses could be for protection on a whistle blower case. Your employer would not have a clue unless you provided unique information that only you had access to.

Logging in at work everything would be normal. Logging in at home only normal activities are in your history with your browser and ISP. A raid etc will come up clean of whistle blower materials.

There is nothing unique about an Ubuntu installation CD or DVD in your media that can tie you to your contacts with the press about the leaking drums of industrial solvent burried out back.

There are legit uses for do not track. Leave no fingerprints behind.

An antenna is tuened for a frequency band. Nothing special about a "Digital" antenna. A good antenna that could reduce or eliminate ghosting from multipath will work just fantastic for "Digital" TV. I never upgraded to a digital antenna.

Check your cable provider's rate for telephone. Then look for VOIP solutions instead.

Cable typically charges 29.95 or more + per month.

There are at least 3 VOIP providers that charge under $10 per month, including fees, which includes all of the US and Canada + and 60 minutes to about 40 counries.

I have an elderly relative living with us. We bought a phone adaptor. A Linksys PAP2T-NA was about $50 for the box so we don't rent a box. That box is discontinued. The SPA2102 replaced it. A Grandstream GPX1400 is about the same price.

No Particular endorcement.. Viatalk, Phone Power, Call Central, etc. Compare prices and plans. Warning, not all cheap plans include 911 service. Google Talk/Voice work for free in the US, but needs a phone toforward to if you are not at the computer logged in.

I use VOIP for long distance when home. I downgraded to a lower cost cell plan with fewer minutes which makes the VOIP a no cost solution.

The truth is there are a lot of cable cutters. The basic subscription is only to get a break on Internet. DSL and basic phone service is the same thing. My home phone has no long distance plan at all. It is redundant and expensive compaired to my Cell or VOIP which include all of US and Canada as a local call.

WIth Netflix, Hulu, etc, unless you want the sports package, why would you even have cable at all, other than to get a break on the Internet package.

Intenet without basic TV is often higher in price or not offered at all, so the basic TV added is close to zero additional cost.

I've cut Cable TV long ago. I'm not an armchair quarterback.

When working nights, and infomercials plug up the daytime TV, there is little to watch, except on Netflix. TV seasons, science, etc shows can be watched at your convience commercial free. Cable companies hate that. To keep profits up, with cord cutting, they soak the sports junkies that need real time program delivery.

More likely, they tried to install their backdoor and found the space already ocupied on some devices by the Chinese backdoor. This may be how the other backdoor was discovered. The firmware on some devices didn't match the manufactures binary and filled space the NSA was going to use.

I hit Goodwill (thrift store) and picked up a home Clear branded WiMax modem/wireless router. The thing runs on 12 volts, so a DC cord instead of the wall wart makes it very mobile on a home dataplan. Clear supports bring your own device at $20 Month to Month. I keep it in the motorhome and use it on summer trips. I check for coverage before departing, as not all destinations are covered.

It just happens to be one of the many options. When using it, I can plug in my VOIP phone adapter too. My mobile office has an office phone. I recharge batteries any time the sun shines.

In my market, this is getting shaken up. Qwest is expanding and doing quite well. When they did my street, I dumped Comcast, tripled my speed, and reduced my cost. I found no throttling, or blocked ports. I did test Comcast for the torrent throttling. 1st minute fine, 2nd minute about 1/2 speed, etc to where a file was totally stalled on a Linux ISO by the end of the day. FTP of the same file from a mirror was a 20 minute download.

Same test on Qwest is functional. I am running SIP phone service for 2 additional lines from another provider. Qwest is not interfearing.

I get calls from time to time from Comcast salesmen pusing their high speed Xfinity branded product. I give them the info of how they treated me and I have zero interest in a repeat serving. Their reputation preceeds them. Customer retention may become a priority for them soon... I hope.

He probably go caught by having a money liik to him through his paypal account. He would have been much harder to find without it.